PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a scanning endoscope with an insertion section narrowed by miniaturizing the distal end of the insertion section.SOLUTION: A scanning endoscope apparatus 1 includes: an insertion section 11 an optical device 14, disposed at the distal end 12, for irradiating a living body with illumination light a light receiving part 16 for detecting return light from the living body a joint member into which the optical device is inserted a first driving part, provided in the joint member, for driving a free end of the optical device in a first direction a second driving part, provided at a 90° point-symmetric position relative to the first driving part, for driving the free end of the optical device 14 in a second direction a control part 25 for driving the free end of the optical device to scan in such a way that the first direction is larger than the second direction by controlling the drive of the respective driving parts so that the illumination area includes an effective image region with a prescribed aspect ratio in a subject image and an illumination optical system 13 disposed at the distal end and having the contour corresponding to the region through which the illumination light beam from the optical device passes.COPYRIGHT: (C)2014,JPO&INPIT【課題】挿入部の先端部を小型にして挿入部を細経化した走査型内視鏡の提供。【解決手段】走査型内視鏡装置1は、挿入部11と、先端部12に配置され、生体に照明光を照射する光学素子14と、生体からの戻り光を検出する受光部16と、光学素子が挿通される接合部材と、接合部材に設けられ、光学素子の自由端を第1の方向に駆動させる第1の駆動部と、接合部材の第1の駆動部に対して90°点対称の位置に設けられ、光学素子14の自由端を第2の方向に駆動させる第2の駆動部と、照明領域が被写体像の所定のアスペクト比の有効画像領域を含むように、各駆動部を駆動制御して、光学素子の自由端を第2の方向よりも第1の方向が大きくなるように走査させる制御部25と、先端部に配設され、光学素子からの照明光の光線が通過する領域に応じた外形を有する照明光学系13と、を具備する。【選択図】図1
